Top Fly Fishing Tips for Beginners: Gear You Need to Have

Fly fishing is one of the fastest-growing forms of fishing among the younger generation. Amidst the pandemic, where social distancing has been a key factor in containing the virus, people have been finding ways to keep active. Whether it’s enjoying the outdoors after a long-winded quarantine or just the need to keep active while still being socially distant, fly fishing is now on the rise. Despite regaining some form of popularity, fishing, in general, can be quite daunting to get into. There’s a lot to know from types of fish to catch, the best times to catch fish, and many more. However, before even heading out on a fishing trip, the most important thing anglers could have is their gear. Of course, we can all do it the way our ancestors did, but in reality, fishing is a gear-heavy sport.  Whether it’s rods, reels, and lines to bait, lures, and hooks to use, there are a lot of types of equipment anglers need to use and in varying combinations. It’s no wonder that fishing can seem to have a high barrier of entry. 

That being said, here are some of the necessary equipment for new fly fishing anglers to look into before heading on a fishing trip.

Fly Fishing Gear: Everything You Need To Have

Fly Fishing Rod

Out of everything an angler needs, the most important would have to be a rod. Fly fishing is different from other fishing techniques as it relies on the casting method due to its weighted lure. Things to look out for when choosing fly rods include how it casts, its line control, and how durable the rod is. Weighted lures in combination with the rod’s long and flexible frame make placing lures in the water very accurate.  The importance of casting cannot be understated, which is why testing for the rod’s feeling when casting is good practice. Other than the rod's accuracy, durability is also an equally important factor as fly fishing for potentially heavy species like bass or trout can be taxing on rods. It’s great to have one that can withstand all that weight.

When it comes to line weight here’s a rule of thumb. Zero to two lines are for smaller fish while three to five line weights are used for big trout, small bass, and farther lure distances. Line weights of 6 onwards are usually reserved for bigger fish and situations where the wind is strong, as well as saltwater fishing and heavy flies. 

There are also three types of fly fishing rods to look out for: fast, medium, and slow-action rods. Fast-action rods have slightly bent tips and are great for long-distance casting and fishing during a windy day. They are physically less demanding because of their reliance on the weight of the lure and the unique tip of the rod. Despite that fact, fast-action rods are hard to use and are recommended for more experienced anglers. Slow-action rods are on the other end of the spectrum, are mostly used in shorter distances and are used to catch small fish like rainbow trout and panfish. They’re also easier to learn and are recommended for those starting out. Taking from both slow and fast-action rods are the medium-action rods whose body will start bending from halfway down the rod. They’re easy to use as well as effective in farther distances, making them popular for anglers regardless of experience. 

Finally, in terms of length, fly rods will probably range around 8 ft to 9 ft. In the same way as how the three types of rods are described, 8 ft rods are used on smaller distances and panfish while 9 ft and more are for the opposite. 8.5 ft rods are about in the middle of the two and are generally versatile in both their reach and accuracy.

Lures

Fly fishing is just as reliant on its use of artificial lures as it is with its lures. They are inseparable, therefore picking the right ones to use is definitely just as important. There are a couple of types of fishing lures new anglers should be aware of; dry and wet lures as well as some subtypes under wet lures like streamers, nymphs, and emergers. Dry flies are artificial lures that mimic insects emerging from the water and are called dry because they stay floating above the water. In comparison, wet flies stay underneath the water, mimicking baitfish and other small prey. Streamers, nymphs, and emergers typically are in the same vein as wet flies but are more specialized. Streamers are wet flies designed to mimic baitfish, crawfish, and smaller prey. Nymphs specialize in catching trout and salmon; enticing them with their larvae-like form. There are also other wet fly variants like salmon flies and saltwater flies who, as their name suggests, work well with catching salmon and saltwater fish, respectively. 

Miscellaneous Tools

As overlooked as it can get, cutting tools like pliers and nippers are invaluable. Pliers, also known as hemostats, are there to remove flies from fish or tying small knots.  Nippers are mainly used to cut lines. Other tools and accessories include polarized glasses to get rid of the glare bouncing off on the water during sunny days, as well as fly boxes in order to keep flies neat and orderly. Fishing hook sharpeners are also a great idea to bring as hooks tend to dull through use. And while these are quite a number of items to bring, anglers willing to spend a few bucks can invest in a multi-tool, a handy tool with a number of saws, blades, and nippers. Finally, as fish activity can be dependent on water temperature, bringing a thermometer can give a better picture of what waters look like at least in terms of possible fish activity. 

Regardless of what’s listed here, there are still loads of equipment that anglers can bring to help in reeling in fish. The amount of gear can seem endless, but it doesn’t have to be. At the very least, the gear and tools listed above are the absolute necessities new anglers should bring when trying out fly fishing.